Grave-vault.



No. 682,|09. Patented Sept. 3, l90l. G. W. MURRAY. GRAVE VAULT.

(Application filed May 10, 1901.) (No Model.)

WITNESSES.-

ai MM?! Z UNITED STATES I PATENT DFEICE.

GEORGE W. MURRAY, OF SKIDMORE, MISSOURI.

G RAVE-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,109, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed May 10, 1901. Serial No. 59,556. (No model.)

To all whmn it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing in Skidmore, in the county of Nodaway and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grave-Vaults, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in grave-vaults.

The object of my invention is to provide a grave-vault that isextensible to suit the length of the coffin to be placed therein.

It comprises certain novel features of construction hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure l isa side elevation view, a portion of one end being shown invertical-section. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view takenon the dotted line a b of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the dotted line 0 cl of Fig. 2, the ends of the casingbeingshown in plan and not in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

The base is composed of a series of horizontal transverse members A,disposed in consecutive order, the abutting edges of the members beingprovided with longitudinal fian ges B, which overlap one another. Eachend of each member A is provided with a transverse groove. All thegrooves on one side register with each other, and in these grooves areplaced two longitudinal rods 0, which are held in position by means oftwo transverse plates D, disposed one at each end of the base andprovided with holes through which extend the screw-threaded ends,respectively, of the two bolts 0. Nuts E on the bolts 0 serve to retainthe plates D firmly against the ends of the base. In the upper side ofeach of the base members A and near each end thereof is a transversegroove disposed parallel to the rods 0. The grooves on each sideregister with each other on the same side, thus forming one long grooveat each side of the base. In each of these long grooves are disposed aseries of upright members F, the upper ends of which curve toward andabut against the on the two end members being fitted into correspondinggrooves provided in the edges, respectively, of two vertical end membersI, which form the two ends of the casing.

Two bolts Jextend vertically through openings provided, respectively, inthe two end members of the base and the two casing mem bers at each endof the vault. The ends of the bolts, which are in the base members, arescrew-threaded and have mounted thereon, respectively, the nuts K,preferably located in recesses provided therefor in the base members.The upper ends of the bolts J are provided with heads, which bear,respectively, on washers L, whichin turn rest upon the upper side of thecasing. The bolts J secure the casing firmly to the base. Each of thetwo end members A is provided on its upper side outside the end member Iwith a transverse flange M, which serves to retain the end member I inposition.

In using my invention the base members are first assembled to thepositions already described, the number of intermediate members A beingused as is necessary to provide sufficient length. The rods 0 are thenplaced in position with the plates D mounted thereon, after which thenuts E are mounted on the rods 0. The coffin and contents are thenplaced on the base and the casing comprising the arched members F andthe two end members I are then mounted on the base and secured inposition by inserting the bolts J, on which the nuts K are then mounted.The vault, with the coffin therein, may then be placed in the grave andcovered with earth in the ordinary manner.

My invention may be modified in many ways without departing from itsspirit.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A grave -vault comprising a series of transverse horizontal basemembers disposed side by side and forming a base portion in each side ofwhich is a longitudinal groove, a rod located in each of said grooves, aplate at each end of the base portion mounted on the two rods andprovided With means for being secured thereon, two series of sidemembers resting at their lower ends upon the base portion and havingtheir upper ends curving inwardly to meet the side members of theopposite series, the side members having their sides overlapping theadjacent side members, means for securing the side members to the baseportion, and two end members disposed one at each end of the two seriesof side members and resting on the base portion, substantially asdescribed.

2. A grave -vau1t comprising a series of transverse horizontal membersdisposed side by side and forming a base portion in each side of whichis a longitudinal groove, a rod located in each of said grooves, a plateat each end of the base portion mounted on the two rods and providedwith means for securing thereto, two series of side members resting attheir lower ends upon the base portion and having their upper endscurving inwardly and abutting the side members of the 0ppo- GEORGE W.MURRAY.

Witnesses:

ED. I. ALBRIGHT, JEREMIAH E. ALBRIGHT.

